Ehime Orupke had 10 points and nine rebounds for Wichita State,which has won 16 straight games at home.

"That was the main thing ... to get that W, keep this thingrolling," Early said. "We want to keep this going."

The Salukis have lost nine straight Missouri Valley games,dating back to last season, but had a nine-point lead startingthe second half.

It seemed to evaporate in the blink of an eye, and coach BarryHinson was concerned enough to call two time-outs in the secondhalf's first 76 seconds.

That didn't stop Wichita State from scoring the first 10 pointsafter halftime, capped by Early's three-point play that gave theShockers a 44-43 lead and preceded Hinson's second time-out.

The Salukis stemmed the tide for a bit, leading 50-49 with 16minutes to play. But Wichita State then scored eight straight,including an Orupke slam.

"Those first five minutes were huge," Orupke said. "After thatfirst half, we needed all the energy we could get."

After Hinson called his final time-out of the game, with 14:03remaining, Southern Illinois scored five straight before theShockers answered with two Tekele Cotton hustle baskets andEarly's jumper for a 63-55 lead with 9:45 remaining.

"They wanted to win as bad as we did," Cotton said. "It seemedlike we kept needing one more stop."

Wichita State pushed the lead to 10 soon after, but SouthernIllinois stayed in it. Jalen Pendleton's basket with 3:15remaining cut Wichita State's lead to 73-69.

It was still a four-point game in the final minutes when twoWichita State turnovers gave the Salukis a chance. Beane drew afoul and made two free throws with 29.7 seconds on the clock tocut the Southern Illinois deficit to 78-76.

But free throws from Wichita State's Malcolm Armstead and an SIUturnover sealed the victory for the Shockers.

"Everyone will talk about our good first half," Hinson said,"but that second half, to get down 10 and get back in it was thebest thing we did. We never quit."

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